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Can ethics be taught? Evidence from securities exams and investment adviser misconduct

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  • Kowaleski, Zachary T.
  • Sutherland, Andrew G.
  • Vetter, Felix W.

Abstract

We study the consequences of a 2010 change in the investment adviser qualification exam that reallocated coverage from the rules and ethics section to the technical material section. Comparing advisers with the same employer in the same location and year, we find those passing the exam with more rules and ethics coverage are one-fourth less likely to commit misconduct. The exam change appears to affect advisers’ perception of acceptable conduct and not just their awareness of specific rules or selection into the qualification. Those passing the rules and ethics-focused exam are more likely to depart employers experiencing scandals. Such departures also predict future scandals. Our paper offers the first archival evidence on how rules and ethics training affects conduct and labor market activity in the financial sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Kowaleski, Zachary T. & Sutherland, Andrew G. & Vetter, Felix W., 2020. "Can ethics be taught? Evidence from securities exams and investment adviser misconduct," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(1), pages 159-175.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:138:y:2020:i:1:p:159-175
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2020.04.008
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    3. John (Jianqiu) Bai & Chenguang Shang & Chi Wan & Yijia Eddie Zhao, 2022. "Social Capital and Individual Ethics: Evidence from Financial Adviser Misconduct," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(2), pages 495-518, November.
    4. Marion Dupire & Christian Haddad & Regine Slagmulder, 2022. "The Importance of Board Risk Oversight in Times of Crisis," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 61(3), pages 319-365, June.
    5. Cowan, Arnold R. & Gao, Lei & Han, Jianlei & Pan, Zheyao, 2024. "Local religiosity and financial advisor misconduct," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
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    7. Christine Cuny & Omri Even‐Tov & Edward M. Watts, 2021. "From Implicit to Explicit: The Impact of Disclosure Requirements on Hidden Transaction Costs," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 215-242, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ethics; Financial misconduct; Financial regulation; Fraud; Investment advisers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D18 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Protection
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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